Jharkhand High Court Flags Road Safety Risks From Stray Dogs and Cattle on Highways

The court directed the concerned authorities to submit a compliance report at the earliest. The matter is scheduled for its next hearing on December 3.

During Thursday’s proceedings, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) presented a status report detailing road safety measures undertaken across nearly 3,500 km of highways in Jharkhand.

According to the report, authorities have identified 34 accident-prone locations and installed fencing along approximately 325 km of highway stretches. Illegal road cuts have also been closed, while highway patrol vehicles have been deployed around the clock to improve monitoring and respond to emergencies.

However, the NHAI informed the court that several important proposals and coordination-related matters remained pending, citing inadequate support from the state government.

The authority emphasised the need for greater coordination among government departments to prevent stray cattle from entering highways and strengthen road safety arrangements.

Only Seven Districts Have Functional Animal Birth Control Centres

The management of the stray dog population also emerged as a key concern during the hearing.

The court was informed that only seven of Jharkhand’s 24 districts currently have operational Animal Birth Control (ABC) centres.

The state government, however, told the court that more than 14,000 stray dogs had been sterilised and vaccinated over the preceding six months.

It also submitted that urban local bodies had begun identifying designated feeding zones for dogs across municipal wards.

Court Seeks Effective Implementation of Safety Measures

The High Court directed the concerned agencies and government departments to ensure that measures addressing stray cattle and dog-related risks are implemented effectively.

Highlighting the dangers posed by animals wandering onto roads, the court said it would closely monitor the authorities' progress in addressing the issue.

The proceedings are aimed at strengthening road safety and reducing the risks faced by motorists and pedestrians across Jharkhand.